In conjunction with Maryland's historic move to the Big Ten Conference on July 1, Maryland athletics will be taking an in-depth look at its future Big Ten foes. Today we continue the series by profiling Purdue University.

What started in 1958 as a way for engineering students to show off their skills has grown into an annual campus-wide event focusing on raising scholarship funds for the Grand Prix Foundation. The Foundation has the sanctioning body of the race since 1965, with its motto being “Students Helping Students”.

Participating groups are responsible for making their own kart to safety and performance regulations. All karts must race with a Yamaha KT-100 engine, and the race is run on a track carefully modeled after the World Kart Championship Track in Japan.

Known as “The Greatest Spectacle in College Racing,” the 160-lap (50 miles) race is held two weeks before spring semester finals at the conclusion of “Gala Week”.